A 25% deposit of the total package cost per person is due at the time of reservation. Occasionally, special customized packages may require a higher deposit amount.

FULL PAYMENT:

Due 45 days prior to departure. Some special events may require earlier payment. You will be advised at the time of reservation. Payments made within 21 days of departure must be in the form of a Bank Wire Transfer or credit card. We reserve the right to cancel, without refund, any reservation that is not paid in full by the balance due date. The purchase of Travel Interruption or Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended.

PRICES:

All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability at the time of booking. In case of human or computer error, Avatar Travel reserves the right to re-invoice for the correct price or service. A full refund will be made to passengers who choose not to pay an increase, provided Avatar Travel receives a written cancellation within five days of the price increase notification.

CREDIT CARDS:

We accept major credit cards. Credit card payment can be done through our “online payment” method. Third-party credit cards are not acceptable.

LAST-MINUTE RESERVATIONS:

If requested services cannot be confirmed, deposit and booking fee will be refunded. If services are confirmed, final payment is due within 24 hours and all applicable cancellation penalties will apply thereafter. Acceptable forms of payment include credit card or certified check. A last minute booking is defined as request for travel within 14 days.

PASSENGER NAME:

Passengers are responsible to ensure that the names printed on the invoice exactly match their passport names. Avatar Travel will not be held responsible for the denial of services by a carrier due to any name discrepancy. Name changes must be advised in writing to Avatar Travel to avoid inconvenience.

DOCUMENTS:

Will be emailed approximately 21 days prior to departure keeping in mind that full payment (wire transfer or approved credit card) is received at least 45 days prior.

AMENDMENTS AFTER DEPARTURE:

The cost of any changes or additions will be at the local rate at the time of the amendment, not per the Avatar Travel published rate, and must be borne by the passenger.

AIRLINES:

Once issued, tickets are non-refundable. Airline schedules and flights are subject to change without notice. Avatar Travel is not responsible for penalties incurred for tickets, international or domestic, not issued by Avatar Travel due to schedule and/or flight changes. We suggest you contact your travel agent or the carrier several weeks prior to departure for seat assignments. Passengers are responsible to reconfirm their flights 72 hours prior to departure for all flights.

RAIL:

Rail tickets are valid for the dates and times specified and once issued are non-refundable. The possibility of date and/or time changes once issued is strictly subject to availability and may by accompanied by rate increases.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:

Will be provided in accordance with the itinerary or similar. We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard. There will be no refunds for any difference in the cost of those accommodations. All rooms are standard twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, unless you have specifically requested and paid for an upgraded room category. Special requests such as bed types, smoking preference and connecting rooms are subject to availability. Room selection in all cases, unless otherwise reserved, is strictly at the discretion of the hotel's management on a run-of-house basis. Triple rooms consist of standard twin beds plus a sofa/folding bed or cot for third person. The number of persons accommodated does not dictate the room size. All hotel rates are based on FIT agreements with its suppliers and are not negotiable. Hotel check-in time is generally not before 4:00 p.m. and check-out time is prior to noon. Please be sure that adequate arrangements for accommodations have been taken into consideration when a late night flight is being used. If a day room is included in the itinerary, check-out will normally be 6:00 p.m.

CRUISES:

In general, passengers may board ships not earlier than three hours and not later than one hour prior to departure. It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure a timely arrival at the port. Cabins are assigned within a general cabin category on run-of-ship basis. Avatar Travel cannot guarantee a specific assignment. Cruise itineraries and ships are subject to change without notice. Furthermore, cruise ships may be chartered and/or departure dates cancelled, in which case all monies will be refunded. Avatar Travel takes no responsibility for ship substitutions or itinerary changes imposed by a cruise line.

CHILDREN:

Minimum age for children on escorted coach tours is six, except in South Africa where minimum age is 12. There is no minimum age on independent packages.

MEALS ON TOUR:

As specified in each itinerary. Meals are based on the hotel's or restaurant's buffet or set menu. In general, beverages are not included, unless specifically stated.

TRANSFERS:

As indicated for each tour, provided by car, minibus, or motor coach, and only on tour arrival and departure dates, provided airfare is purchased from Avatar Travel. If you purchase a land-only tour, or if you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates as stated in the itinerary, you will automatically be billed for the transfer service, which you may advise us to cancel at any time prior to your final tour payment date.

SIGHTSEEING:

Will be operated by motor-vehicle, its size dictated by the number of participants, at the sole discretion of the company. Avatar Travel tours have been designed to accommodate individuals as well as groups. Please refer to each tour package for a complete listing of tour services included. The number of participants may vary during the tour, as Avatar Travel accommodates travellers arriving on different airlines and on different days of the week. Times listed in itineraries are approximate and meant only as guidelines. It is your responsibility to arrive on time for all scheduled flights, cruises, and package components. Arriving late may be considered a "no-show", in which case you will not be eligible for refund for the unused service(s). We cannot guarantee the number of passengers who will be on any given tour. You may find that you are travelling with a sizeable group or only with your own companions. Services, however, will remain constant no matter the number of tour participants.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

On dates including, but not limited to religious holidays and national celebrations, some monuments and sites may be closed. On these occasions, touring itineraries may be amended to reflect these closures.

LUGGAGE:

The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator, Avatar Travel, shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. If you purchase travel insurance, most damage/loss can be claimed, assuming that a report is filed at the time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities.

ITINERARY AND HOTEL VARIATIONS:

Occasionally, during holidays and certain trade show periods, due to unforeseen circumstances, the local Tour Operator may have to make last-minute changes, sometimes after arrival, in the sequence of the tour and/or hotels. Therefore, we reserve the right to substitute any of the hotels with no cost adjustment.

SUGGESTED TIPPING:

Tipping is always at your discretion, however, a guideline will be provided with your travel documents.

TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES:

Tour participants requiring any form of assistance are required to notify Avatar Travel in writing at the time of reservation, and must be accompanied by an individual responsible for providing those services. Tour managers, guides, drivers or other tour, hotel, ship personnel are not able to provide such assistance. Due to space limitations, it may not be possible for wheelchairs and walkers to be taken aboard motor coaches and/or ships. Avatar Travel reserves the right to remove any person from a tour who has not provided the required notification and has not received written confirmation from Avatar Travel. All related expenses, including those to return home, will be borne by the passenger.

GROUP HARMONY:

To ensure the desired group synergy, Avatar Travel reserves the right to accept, reject or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests of the group. All expenses to do so will be borne by the passenger.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:

Please check with your healthcare provider for up-to-date requirements. Malaria is endemic to some regions of Africa and precautions must be taken. Required inoculations, if any, must be recorded by clients' health practitioner on a valid vaccination certificate which the client must carry for proof of inoculation where required. Individuals with heart disease, chronic illness, physical handicap, or advanced pregnancy, should not participate in certain rigorous travel programs. Ask your reservation agent for level of activity required.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS:

Passengers are responsible for ensuring that they have the proper travel documents and MUST CHECK with the respective consulate(s) or visa agency to determine whether any visas are required.

CANCELLATION:

After full payment is received, the following cancellation penalties apply in addition to any non-refundable prepaid expenses: 60 to 45 days 25%; 44 to 30 days 50%; 29 to 21 days 75%; less than 21 days or no-show 100%. No refund or credit will be issued for unused portions of the trip. Trip Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended.

REFUNDS:

All requests for refunds must be made in writing and received no later than 15 days after the return of the tour. Claims for unused services should be substantiated in writing by local representatives. Processing will take from six to eight weeks from the date Avatar Travel receives relevant documents. There will be no refunds for unused package tour services or features, including missed transfers due to airline changes and/or missed flights, unused meals, missed sightseeing tours, unused entrance fees, and accommodations. No terms may be changed by anyone other than an authorized representative of Avatar Travel and must be documented in writing. Avatar Travel is not obliged to guarantee promises (written or verbal) made by local hotel staff, tour guides, or any other persons not under direct employment of Avatar Travel. Trip Cancellation Insurance is strongly recommended.

RESPONSIBILITY:

Avatar Travel and its representatives abroad act only as independent contractors acting on behalf of neither the customer nor the suppliers and principals. All exchange orders, coupons, and tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions under which such means of transportation, accommodations, and other services are offered or provided. The issuance and acceptance of such documents shall be deemed as consent to the further conditions. Avatar Travel does not own nor operate the hotels, motor coaches, airlines, cruise lines, or any other service providers which compose their tours, and will not be held responsible for changes and/or cancellations for any reason by airlines, hotels or cruise ships.

A) The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator, Avatar Travel , shall not be in any way liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity in any vehicle, or through the act of default of any company, or person engaged in conveying passengers, or of any hotel proprietor, personnel, servant or any other person otherwise in connection therewith.

B) Avatar Travel shall not be held responsible for potential risks and hazards associated with travel to any of our destinations, where injury, delay, or unanticipated events may occur. Avatar Travel shall not assume responsibility for standards of quality, hygiene, political stability, cuisine, sanitation facilities, cleanliness, telecommunications facilities, methods of conducting business, emergency medical evacuation, treatment, or medical services found in these destinations.

C) Avatar Travel cannot accept responsibility for loss or expense due to delay or changes in transportation schedule or other causes.

D) Each exchange voucher and ticket is to be regarded as one contracted by or on behalf of the particular company or person named on it.

E) The Cruise companies and the Airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any omission or events during the time passengers are not aboard their ship, plane, or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the Steamship company and the Airline concerned, when issued, shall constitute the whole contract between the Steamship companies, the Airlines, and the Purchaser of these tours and/or the passengers. The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator and Avatar Travel do not assume responsibility for airlines, cruises, or hotels overbooking, cancellations, or delays.